BEING KIND

There have always been people who are cruel. Sometimes the cruelty is masked as a reason to educate another about how to act and then sometimes, people are simply in the mood to be cruel to someone else. Being cruel can be a blatant right-in-your-face act or words thrown out from behind the shield of a computer screen. The result is the same. What was done was unkind. Whether it is a word, an action or simply thoughtlessness; what was done was an intentional act meant to hurt someone.

Everyone has heard of the Golden Rule. We should treat others the way that we wish to be treated. And regardless of what you might think, being kind is not the same as being weak. In fact, it sometimes takes a lot of courage to be kind when most of the people around you aren’t.

We all have the opportunity to choose how we treat others and most of us choose to be “nice,” which is being kind only on the surface, and there is a difference. Being “nice” comes from the fear of having someone think less of you, whereas being “kind” comes from love. Being “kind” is caring without needing an audience. There are a whole lot of “nice” people who can be very cruel when no one is looking.

Science has proven that being “kind” boosts serotonin (which is a neurotransmitter responsible for making you feel better). Kindness also helps to ease anxiety, making it one of the least expensive ways to stay calm during times of stress. Making others feel better can affect the chemical balance of your heart by releasing oxytocin, which reduces blood pressure. Isn’t it funny how being a kind person is actually good for your health as well?

You never know what battles are being fought in another person’s life. They may be struggling with their health or the health of someone that they love. They could be trying hard to make ends meet when there are no resources left to pay their bills.

It might be that they feel like no one cares and one senseless act by you proves it in their mind. You could be the reason that someone smiles or gives up, and that is a huge responsibility.

Believe me when I say that there are no situations in life that warrant being cruel. None.

“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” ~ Henry James